The Messenger August 2020

Monthly magazine of St Peter’s Terrace End

Website: http://www.stpeterspn.org.nz

ST PETER'S ANGLICAN CHURCH

229 Ruahine St., PO Box 5134

Terrace End. Palmerston North

Phone/Fax: (06) 358-5403

E-mail: stpeters@inspire.net.nz

Vicar

Rev Stuart Goodin……. 027 442 4867

Church Wardens

John Freebairn (Vicar’s)….. 351 4706

Yvonne Rae (People’s) ……. 358 3962

Hon Priest Associate

Rev Geneth Davies ………… 357 8481

Rev Ross Downes ………….. 323 2035

Hon Vocational Deacon

Rev Faye Davenport ……….. 358 1520

Vestry Members

David Barrett ………………. 358 8798

Rae Callahan ......................... 357 3970

John Freebairn ....................... 351 4706

James Pettengill…… … 027 580 6320

Ann Bull ……………… …..355 5503

Githa Warrington .................. 357 3859

Church Contacts

AAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. 357 3859

Endowment Trust . . . . …….. 357 3970

Flower Guild . . . . . . . . . . …. 350 3082

Junior Church . . . . . . . . . 022 222 6425

Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 027 408 1637

Pastoral Care . . . . . . . . . . …. 358 5403

Messenger Editors

Yvonne & Allan Rae ………. 358 3962

Weekly Events for August

Mondays

3.30pm Ukelele Group meets in the Hall

during term time. Come 10 mins early for a

cuppa. All welcome.

Mondays 1pm. Silent prayer in the Lady

Chapel.

Sundays

8am Holy Communion

10am Eucharist

10am Children’s Church

Other Events for August

Saturday 1 August

10am Working bee at rear of hall.

Tuesday 4 August

12.15pm. Lunchtime Concert with pianist

Nathan Soong

Wednesday 12 August

12.15. Senior Lunch.

Sunday 16 August

Sea Sunday

Looking ahead:

5 September

Dio Training Day, El Rancho, Waikanae.

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From the Vicar - The Task of Forgiveness

At Vestry we are committed to reading and discussing the Bible together. The

reading set down for the evening on which we held our recent Vestry meeting was

2 Corinthians 2:5-17, and it occasioned much discussion on the nature of

forgiveness. For me there was a great deal of resonance because I have

connections with a couple of families who have faced the tragedy of murder and

who are often asked by journalists about forgiveness. And these reports often have

me asking “Do they know what forgiveness is really about?”

Forgiveness is clearly a big deal to Jesus. He has a lot to say on the subject, and

his teaching on this subject is among the most challenging of his ethical teachings.

It is challenging firstly because of its scope. How many times should we forgive

someone? Jesus answers, 77 times, or 70 times seven times – effectively he means

infinitely. What should we forgive one another for? Anything at all. Yes, even

those who would murder us. Jesus forgave those who killed him. But we also

need to be aware of the need to do the work of forgiveness at the other end of the

spectrum, lest minor hurts and offences start to become the source of bitterness and

division.

The teaching of Jesus on forgiveness is challenging too because of its importance

to Jesus and to God. It is important enough that Jesus tells us that if we are bringing

our gifts to the temple altar and remember that a fellow believer has something

against us, then we are to leave our gift there and go and be reconciled before

coming back and making our offering – in other words, we are not ready for

worship if we are not reconciled to one another.

Forgiveness is important enough for there to be a link between our forgiveness of

one another to God’s forgiveness of us. The link is quite forcefully stated in

various places. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray “Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us.” Luke records Jesus as saying “Forgive,

and you will be forgiven. … For with the measure you use, it will be measured to

you”.

Now we need to remember here that we are already forgiven. God’s gift of

forgiveness, his gift of love for we who have made ourselves his enemies, comes

first. It is his forgiveness of us that creates the motivation and the ability for us to

forgive. We love because he first loved us; we forgive because he has first forgiven

us. God’s constant orientation is to forgive, not to condemn.

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We forgive others out of a sense of profound awareness of the fact that we

ourselves have been forgiven and out of gratitude for that. Do you need to recover

a sense of what it is that God has done for you in Jesus Christ? Our mutual need

for God’s forgiveness permits not one of us to feel morally superior.

God’s forgiveness creates the motivation for us to forgive, and it provides the

ability, the power, to forgive. If we were still caught up in our own unredeemed

state, then we would not have the power to forgive.

In forgiving others, we are also channels for God’s forgiveness. Just as in so much

else God chooses to work through human agents, so it is the case with forgiveness.

As we forgive those who have wronged us, we are vessels of God’s mercy and

love.

It also works the other way. We can by our own unforgiveness block our ability

to receive forgiveness from God. We become bitter, dried up, unable to be vessels

of God’s grace.

So why is our forgiving one another a matter of such importance to God? Why are

we to love our enemies? Why are we to do unto others as we would have them do

unto us? Why does Jesus place such an emphasis on this?

The reason is because these attributes are in the very nature of God, and we are his

children and are called to measure ourselves against his perfections. The reason is

because in doing these things we are part of making his kingdom come on earth as

it is in heaven, here and now. True, we can’t change the world completely by

ourselves – but we can be part of the work that God is doing in bringing his

kingdom into all its fullness. Peacemaking, love of enemies, forgiveness and

mercy, all point towards the coming reign of Christ. God desires to be reconciled

to his estranged children – humankind – and our being reconciled to God is

intimately tied up in our being reconciled to his creation, including our fellow

human beings.

Forgiveness is hard. It is hard in part because we may have only a vague idea of

what really is involved. We may think of it as weakness, or as excusing a wrong

– letting someone go scot-free. We may think of it as denial, or as merely

forgetting the wrong. But true forgiveness is none of these things … and this is

the other reason it is hard. It is hard because it involves an act of will, a choice,

against what we strongly feel.

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Chris Marshall, a New Zealand theologian, and a practitioner in the field of

restorative justice, defines forgiveness like this:

Forgiveness is what happens when the victim of some hurtful action freely

chooses to release the perpetrator of that action from the bondage of guilt,

gives up his or her feelings of ill-will, and surrenders any attempt to hurt or

damage the perpetrator in return, thus clearing the way for reconciliation and

restoration of relationship.1

Forgiveness is freely given; it is not earned or deserved.

It is a choice. It requires an act of will on the part of the victim to enter into the

process. The victim chooses which kind of pain they will live with – either

continuing with the pain of the wrong that was done them and its side effects, or

being willing to go through the pain of the forgiveness process.

It is a personal encounter, in which the reality of the wrong is acknowledged by

both sides, in which there is a sharing of pain – the pain of the wrong, and the pain

of the guilt. It is important that these feelings are voiced. It is painful because this

involves a reliving of the original injury. For the offender, there is a deeper

awareness of the wrong they have done, and a sharper contrition. There is shame

and humiliation. Each party enters the pain of the other, and the dignity of each is

restored.

Forgiveness requires openness to the offender. It requires being ready to change

one’s view of the one who caused the hurt. We often discover that those who have

hurt us are not monsters, but are guilt-ridden, vulnerable, fellow human beings.

Forgiveness offers release. It is release for the victim, a restoration of dignity, a

breaking free from the power of the hurt and the power of the one who caused the

hurt.

It is release too for the offender – release from the crippling effects of guilt.

Above all, the goal of forgiveness is the restoration of right relationships, the

ability to live together at peace with one another.

It all takes time, and it is uncomfortable.

But it all begins with that vital decision to enter into the process. Head precedes

heart in this.

1 Chris Marshall, Beyond Retribution: A New Testament vision for justice, crime, and punishment. Grand Rapids/Cambridge: Eerdmans, 2001. p. 264.

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Now, circumstances might make the encounter between victim and offender

impossible. There will also be times when the offender is unwilling to take part.

Even so, the decision to enter the forgiveness process opens up opportunities for

the victim to work with people other than the offender to make progress towards

forgiveness. It all starts with that vital decision.

Rev Stuart

Installation of our New Vicar While the parish was able to enjoy having a new vicar from late April and in

residence from early May, it was not until July 2nd that the Bishop was able to come

and formally install Stuart Goodin as the new vicar of St Peters.

The service at 7pm was a very important one and the congregation was enhanced

by a number of clergy from other parishes filling the choir stalls as well as a

considerable number of Stuart’s former congregation from Whanganui. The

presence of Stuart and Christine’s family, Antony and his partner Kirsty, and

Victoria and her delightful twins, Ethan and Ava, all made the occasion extra

special. (Unfortunately Victoria’s husband, Chris, was not able to make the trip.)

Stuart and Christine were presented to the

congregation when the Bishop, the Right Rev

Justin Duckworth, outlined the responsibilities

of being the vicar of the parish to which our

Vicar replied that he was “committed to walking

the way of Jesus……… together with all those

who call this place ‘home’.” That was a

particularly moving part of the service.

Office hours – Due to the demands of other employment at this

time, Caro needs to leave the office at 11am each day. We will try

to provide basic reception and telephone cover through to noon

each day, but please be understanding if we are unable to fully fill

her shoes during this time.

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The rest of the service followed a more usual pattern of confession, absolution,

readings and hymns with the Bishop preaching the sermon. This was a lively

presentation from around the chancel steps with the Bishop letting us know at the

beginning that it was being recorded for a service to be on-line in the future. The

Bishop spoke on the nature of ministry, emphasising that, while some are set aside

to lead, ministry is the responsibility of all the baptised.

Another very symbolic part of the service was the presentation of symbols by

members of the congregation. The Bible was presented by Max Tregonning, the

Stole by Jomol Joseph, the water of baptism (represented by the copper ewer used

for pouring the water into the font) was presented by Sophia Petengill and Jolsna

Abraham assisted by Isaac Henderson, the Oil of Healing was presented by Penny

Merrill and the Bread and Wine of Communion by Rae Callahan and Ritchie de

Montalk.

Then came the actual Installation. Rev Sue Fordyce, Archdeacon, read the formal

licence which was presented to Stuart by the Bishop. The

Wardens, on behalf of the parish, formally welcomed and

accepted Stuart as our Vicar. Prayers followed for the work

of Christ in our church, for Stuart and Christine in their

servant leadership of the parish and for us all to rededicate our

lives to God and His service.

Following the final hymn and dismissal, there was a splendid

supper in the hall which most of the congregation attended.

The Whanganui contingent was impressed by our catering and were able to leave

for home eventually, warmed by good food and hospitality.

This celebration of “A New Partnership in Ministry” was a most joyful and moving

occasion and it meant that our new vicar, Stuart and his wife Christine, were now

officially “ours”.

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Patronal Festival The last Sunday in June is always a celebration of our patron saint – Peter or Petra

the Rock. Over the years there have been a variety of ways this feast day has been

celebrated. But always there has been a noted guest preacher. Sometimes this has

been a former vicar (Theo Carpenter one year) or the current Bishop or some other

important person in the church. This year we were very fortunate to have

Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon who has a strong connection with St Peters,

both personally and through his grandmother Sybil Lancaster who was a very well-

known member of the church and its women’s groups.

His sermon, using his bishop’s crozier (crook or staff) to demonstrate, was most

insightful and delightful. The staff was given to Archbishop David in 1993 by the

widow of Bishop Baines who had confirmed David in All Saints when he was 14.

The crook had been used in West Sussex by generations of shepherds so it is very

authentic. Saint Peter was a shepherd leader following the Good Shepherd and by

telling us about the functions of the staff, Archbishop David was able to draw

analogies with the life and work of the Saint. It was a most inspirational and

fascinating sermon which is still able to be read on the St Peter’s website –

stpeterspn.org.nz

Many years ago at Patronal Festivals there were pot luck dinners with a dozen or

so full crockpots belonging to parishioners lined up in the vicarage hall keeping

warm until dinner was dished up. Other plates were being put out on the tables as

the expectant diners sniffed the air appreciatively. Then there were parish

luncheons, sometimes potluck, sometimes catered. But this year there was a

change. After the 9.30 a.m. service there was a special morning tea with

contributions from parishioners and additional tasty items provided by the Catering

Group. There was not much left over as everyone tucked in as well as having lots

of conversation and laughter. The time of the service was a compromise between

8am and 10am as there was only one service. The Archbishop enjoyed talking to

From the Registers

Nil

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parishioners and reminiscing about Palmerston North and its identities as it is his

home town.

At 5pm it was time for a party with special emphasis on the children although all

parishioners were invited to join in. There was pizza and chips which all went very

fast and then there were games including hide and seek (our vicar can fit under a

church pew!) and pass the parcel with Stuart supplying the music on the piano. The

grand finale of the night was a fireworks display with James Pettengill in charge

as he is a health and safety consultant and there were fire extinguishers on the deck

just in case (but not needed). It was a grand sight with all the lovely colours lighting

up the dark sky and then the boom of the cannon ball rockets as each one exploded

with a burst of stars. Sparklers for anyone wanting to wave them around concluded

a very successful party which both children and adults enjoyed.

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TERRACE END

BARBER SHOP

341 Broadway Avenue

Palmerston North

359 3553

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Cancer Society ‘Daffodil Day’: 28 August Daffodil Awareness month: August 2020

Daffodils symbolise strength, courage and life. Daffodil Day symbolises hope for

all New Zealanders impacted by cancer. Since 1990, this event has inspired people

to come together and support the Cancer Society’s work. It is an opportunity to

raise awareness of cancer in New Zealand. There are very few, if any of us, who

have not been affected in some way by cancer; ourselves, a loved one, friend,

workmate, fellow volunteer.

Daffodil Day is a well-known annual event and is a way that volunteers and the

public create opportunities for conversation, connection and support through

experiences of cancer. More people are developing cancer – mainly because the

population is growing and getting older.

Many cancers can be cured if they’re found and treated in time. It is estimated that

in New Zealand, about one person in every three who gets cancer is cured. Even if

the cancer cannot be cured, more effective treatment means many people are now

living longer and living well.

Common cancers:

Bowel cancer

Breast cancer

Cervical cancer

Lung cancer

Prostate cancer

Skin cancer, including melanoma

For further resources: www.daffodilday.org.nz

Bible verse: 2 Samuel chapter 22, verses 32-33: Who is the rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

Rev Faye Davenport RN

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Vestry Vibes

The first meeting of the vestry elected at the Annual General Meeting was held on

July 15th 2020.

The reflection was based on 2 Corinthians, Chapter 2, 5-17. Discussion of the

passage and further reflection by Stuart led into prayer and the commencement of

the business of the meeting.

Stuart followed his reflection by outlining the orientation of vestry –

1. Own commitment to discipleship

2. Purpose of vestry is governance not management

3. Finance committee – to approve payments

4. Property committee – to oversee the maintenance of grounds and buildings.

He also gave a triangular, segmented demonstration of difficulties a vestry could

face. The broad base was Absence of Trust, the next inhibitor was Fear of Conflict,

further up was Lack of Commitment, near the top of the triangle was Avoidance

of Accountability and the small bit at the top was Inattention to Results. Food for

thought for all.

With the election of a new vestry, there are vestry-appointed roles to be filled:

1. Parish nominators – John Freebairn, Yvonne Rae, James Petengill and Ann

Bull

2. Mission Motivator – Wayne Stokes

3. City Mission representative – David Barrett

4. Treasurer – Allan Rae

5. Vestry Secretary – Caroline MacArthur

6. Bank signatories – John Freebairn, Yvonne Rae, Githa Warrington and Rae

Callahan (any two)

7. Health & Safety Co-ordinator – Isaac Henderson

8. Climate Change Catalyst – Isaac Henderson

Other business:

• A railing will be put around the deck to avoid anyone slipping off.

• Workshops will be held for sidespeople and worship leaders as there are new

requirements.

• The defibrillator will be mounted in the hallway of the hall – formal training

will not be necessary as full instructions are included with the device.

• The new name-tag board on an easel has been organised.

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• Another skip bin has been arranged to complete clearing old garden rubbish

from the back of the vicarage and hall – 31st July.

• Letters of thanks are to go to John Read and Helen Milne for their help with

services during the interregnum.

• The vicar’s report outlined some of his aims and ideas as well as giving an

idea of what his outreach had been during the time he has been in the parish.

He has been busy!

• The treasurer’s report included a graph showing the trends in giving – the

automatic payments kept some income up during the lockdown showing how

important this method of giving is to the church and envelope giving showed

a welcome recovery.

Lunchtime Concert: “Intrepid Winds Post Lockdown” A good number turned up on Tuesday 7 July, no doubt curious about the title of

this concert. The intrepid winds turned out to be two flutes and a clarinet. But it

was more than that as Diana Neild played not one, but three flutes of differing

shapes and sizes– a bass flute, an alto flute and a standard flute. The other ‘intrepid

winds’ were Ingrid Vlieg on clarinet (actually using two clarinets) and Jonathan

Couper-Smartt on flute.

Their programme ranged from baroque to raga, tango and popular American pieces

from last century. It began with “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” from the pen

of jazz great Duke Ellington which featured all performers. This was followed by

three famous themes from George Gershwin which were the subjects of “Three

Etudes on Themes of Gershwin” by Paul Harvey, and performed with virtuosity

by Ingrid.

Then we were transported back to the baroque world of Jean-Baptiste Loeillet de

Gant, his Flute Sonata Op.1 No. 1 being played on the two flutes of Diana and

Jonathan.

Next it was Ingrid’s turn again, a brilliant

performance of Raga Music from 1957 and the

Indian composer John Mayer. This consisted of six

pieces, each based on an Indian raga and which

depicted a time of day from sunrise to the deep of

the night.

The Intrepid Winds

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Tango music followed with two pieces by Carlos Gardel, arranged by Diego

Collatti and enticingly played on flutes by Jonathan and Diana.

A most enjoyable lunchtime was concluded with all three musicians joining to

perform the well-known “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, written by another great of the jazz

world, Fats Waller.

This most diverse and enjoyable programme was well appreciated by the audience

through their enthusiastic applause.

The next lunchtime concert on 4 August at 12.15pm will feature the young pianist

Nathan Soong.

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A Big Word of Thanks!

We owe a big vote of thanks to you all for the wonderful

recovery of Givings since lockdown. Direct payments have

continued almost without change, and it is clear that large

numbers of parishioners put money aside for envelope giving

once services resumed. These actions have helped greatly in

the post-Covid recovery of our financial situation.

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